[Bimar]

Hi I have a 2014 production X4 N20 engine. I have reads lots on the falilures of the timing chain and BMW pleading the 5th. My car has 20k miles and is still under warranty and was curious if anyone has been able to get the dealer to replace or alternatively check the state of the timing chain under warranty or otherwise

Surely there is something that can be done before it fails.

Comments please.

[MichiganMike]

Labor would be expensive to do a visual or physical inspection of the timing chain and sprocket. BMW Technician at the link below reports if the valve cover is removed, a limited visual inspection may be performed, but how helpful this may be is open to question. BMW Technician suggested an inspection might require 4 hours of labor and comments at the link suggest their dealer charged about $200 for an inspection.

https://bmwtechnician.com/2016/08/07...g-chain-issue/

I am not aware of dealers undertaking a visual inspection solely at the dealer's or BMW's expense. BMW's TIS bulletin states the dealer should initiate a repair if the whine from the engine matches that in a specific sound file. Unless the whine is heard, it is unlikely the dealer will initiate a repair at BMW's expense per the TIS bulletin, but there is no harm in asking.

https://bmwtechnician.com/2017/08/02...-bmw-bulletin/

Some have suggested more frequent oil change intervals, for example no more than 5,000 miles between oil changes, may help prolong the life of the timing chain.

[Bimar]

Thanks for this, let me try. I wonder if this issue is covered by an extended warranty?

[MichiganMike]

Some BMWs in the USA with the N20 engine are covered by an extended warranty for the timing chain problem. There is more information on the extended warranty at the link below.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho....php?t=1098641

Reimbursement may be available for some engines that were repaired for this problem at the owner's expense.

http://bmw-rp.com/production/bmw/rei...bmw_portal.nsf

[Bruce24]

Originally Posted by MichiganMike

Some BMWs in the USA with the N20 engine are covered by an extended warranty for the timing chain problem.

In November I received a letter from BMW notifying me that BMW was extending the warranty on my engine's "Timing Chain and Oil Pump Drive Chain" to 7 years/70,000 miles from my original service in date. I have a 2013 X3 2.8i.

the letter says:

This is a notice of a "limited warranty extension". This is not a notice of a recall or Service Action.

and ends:

The integrity of our products is essential to BMW's success and our customers' trust. We are determined to exceed your expectations and hope this warranty extensions further enhances your ownership experience.

In my case the letter starting me wondering if I should plan to replace my X3 before it hits 7 years.

-Bruce

[BigJake]

Originally Posted by Bruce24

In my case the letter starting me wondering if I should plan to replace my X3 before it hits 7 years.

-Bruce

I'm in the same boat. Hate to buy a new car.

[49design]

Have a 328GT with the N20 engine, no problems so far at 25,000 miles and 4.5 years out, have the extended warranty letter so good up to 70,000 miles and another 3 years. An option looking into is to just get the timing assembly changed now so we don't have to worry about it, for around $3,000 by our independent shop. Versus waiting for a failure like on a long trip or selling the car early and losing more money than we'd have to normally for us (we own the car outright loan paid off).

Our dealer is also offering to sell us a replacement car or a similar car like an X1 for what they consider to be a good price, with trading in our current car, but I'm not hopeful that these terms will end up being advantageous financially though it would be nice to get any worries about the engine behind us.

I have a X3 35i and am not worried, this is my wife's car and don't want her stranded somewhere.

[Riick]

The N20 has no timing chain issues. It's just bullshit internet rumor

[Barbera335]

Originally Posted by Riick

The N20 has no timing chain issues. It's just bullshit internet rumor

Lol, okay expert. Then why did BMW extend the warranty.

[Riick]

Public relations. It doesn't cost anything for BMW to extend a warranty on something that doesn't break to calm the nerves of those that listen to internet trolls that spread untrue rumors.

Literally nobody talks about N20 timing chain issues, nobody in the F series N20 forums, nobody on other forums, nobody on facebook groups.. there is no timing chain issue. Just stop making things up and spreading lies already.

[MichiganMike]

Originally Posted by Riick

Public relations. It doesn't cost anything for BMW to extend a warranty on something that doesn't break to calm the nerves of those that listen to internet trolls that spread untrue rumors.

Literally nobody talks about N20 timing chain issues, nobody in the F series N20 forums, nobody on other forums, nobody on facebook groups.. there is no timing chain issue. Just stop making things up and spreading lies already.

Perhaps you should notify the attorneys and plaintiffs involved in class action law suits in the US and Canada that they are wasting their time and money on law suits for a defect in the N20 engine that does not exist.

https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2...g-chains.shtml

https://www.newswire.ca/news-release...653043233.html

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by MichiganMike

Perhaps you should notify the attorneys and plaintiffs involved in class action law suits in the US and Canada that they are wasting their time and money on law suits for a defect in the N20 engine that does not exist.

https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2...g-chains.shtml

https://www.newswire.ca/news-release...653043233.html

he is trolling you mate.

[Riick]

Anyone can make a class action lawsuit against anything, regardless if it's true or not.

[Fast4d]

2013 w/70k miles no issues.

waterpump did go out at 69k though.

[pokerface]

Not an “I know a friend of a friend of a friend” story but two individuals I personally know saw timing chain issues

12 328i rwd automatic owned from new, stock - stretched timing chain @ 120,000km.
11(?) x1 awd bought used and unknown history - broken chain and needed engine replacement @ 90,000km

Ours 13 X3 owned from new with tuning module, 53,000kms no issues so far. Being careful with maintenance but wife does drive it hard. Plan to keep this X3 for awhile

[TheCoolX3]

Originally Posted by pokerface

wife does drive it hard

LMAO Sounds like you got a keeper!

[94vtirozguy]

new user here, just picked up my x3 and in the process saw the N20 timing chain issue.

If i go into bmw-rp.com, and put in my vin: i get three options.

1) BMW N20/N26 Turbo oil feed line
2) BMW N20 Pressure switch
3) BMW N20 & N26 Timing Chain & Oil pump

Does this mean i have the 7YR / 70,000 mile extra warranty ?

[Scout10]

Originally Posted by Riick

Anyone can make a class action lawsuit against anything, regardless if it's true or not.

your also an attorney ?
two months ago i was in the BMW center doing a drop off.
The Service Mgr was speaking to an CS Advisor about final billing on a
N20 eng that had a "fairy tale, fake, non existant, timing chain failure" that was on extended warranty.
Luckily another comment was, he couldn't believe the exchange cost of the engines now.
He has got to be smokin something, or an iv user !

But Riick says its an internet fantacy by only us. ? ? ? Okay !

[Dave340]

Originally Posted by 94vtirozguy

new user here, just picked up my x3 and in the process saw the N20 timing chain issue.

If i go into bmw-rp.com, and put in my vin: i get three options.

1) BMW N20/N26 Turbo oil feed line
2) BMW N20 Pressure switch
3) BMW N20 & N26 Timing Chain & Oil pump

Does this mean i have the 7YR / 70,000 mile extra warranty ?

I own a 2013 X3 XDRIVE 28i (N20) and received in the mail for what BMW calls, "BMW Limited Warranty Information." I copied the exact description from the letters below and added the duration of the extended warranty. I also checked the on-line the descriptions, though the descriptions are somewhat different, they do correspond to the notifications I received.

1) Timing chain and oil pump drive chain - 7 yrs / 70K miles
2) Fuel tank leak diagnostic Module (NVLD) - 10 yrs / 120K miles, the on-line description also includes the term pressure switch
3) Coolant thermostat - 10 yrs / 120K miles, I have a build date of Nov 2012 so quite possibly they fixed this issue for your build
4) Engine oil feed line to the turbocharger - 10 yrs / 120K miles

So for the three items on your list, you should have the same durations above from your in service date.

[94vtirozguy]

Originally Posted by Dave328

I own a 2013 X3 XDRIVE 28i (N20) and received in the mail for what BMW calls, "BMW Limited Warranty Information." I copied the exact description from the letters below and added the duration of the extended warranty. I also checked the on-line the descriptions, though the descriptions are somewhat different, they do correspond to the notifications I received.

1) Timing chain and oil pump drive chain - 7 yrs / 70K miles
2) Fuel tank leak diagnostic Module (NVLD) - 10 yrs / 120K miles, the on-line description also includes the term pressure switch
3) Coolant thermostat - 10 yrs / 120K miles, I have a build date of Nov 2012 so quite possibly they fixed this issue for your build
4) Engine oil feed line to the turbocharger - 10 yrs / 120K miles

So for the three items on your list, you should have the same durations above from your in service date.

Thanks, as i am new owner of the vehicle, i assume i wont get the letter you recieved.

My vehicle also has a build date of Nov 2012.

[DBU]

Originally Posted by X4guy

Hi I have a 2014 production X4 N20 engine. I have reads lots on the falilures of the timing chain and BMW pleading the 5th. My car has 20k miles and is still under warranty and was curious if anyone has been able to get the dealer to replace or alternatively check the state of the timing chain under warranty or otherwise

Surely there is something that can be done before it fails.

Comments please.

I chose to replace the timing chain tensioner on my N20 X4. BMW has used at least three different versions of the tensioner and I established that my 8/14 production N20 motor only had the second version installed from new. It is a cheap "fix" and a DIY job if you are a little handy.



I made a DIY thread over on the X4 sub-forum.

[xtremebimmer]

I read about some N20 engines having an issue with the plastic timing chain guides being defective, which can supposedly destroy the engine if the chain breaks/jumps off. My X3 was produced in 4/2013 and is a model year 2014 with the N20 engine. I took a video of what the engine sounds like after warming up: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3EUQjjKz1sB6RMxT6
Is this what it is supposed to sound like? I have 85,000 miles on it and I am wondering if I should consider my options or not worry about it. Is there any way to know for sure if I have the defective timing chain guides?
Is it normal for the N20 to have this sort of knocking sound? I have owned this X3 for about four months and it has sounded like this the whole time. I took it into the local BMW dealership and had them do an oil change and they also checked it over but they did not mention the timing chain at all.